Set Okami

Pros

• ✓The soft Premium Eva Rubber core gives generous ball exit off the back wall — the shot where a harder rubber forces you to rush your arm to get the ball deep The round shape and medium balance keep the sweet spot centred: off-centre volleys and defensive blocks still come out clean, without any twist in the hand The sandy 12K carbon face bites into the ball on cortadas and bandejas, letting you close the angle with topspin on the vibora without relying purely on arm speed The 38mm frame and 355-370g weight range make this a manageable racket for fast net exchanges, with comfortable grip changes between forehand and backhand volleys The anti-vibration grip liner filters out the sharp feedback from off-centre hits, which you'll appreciate in long matches with heavy balls or on cold courts

Cons

• ✗This isn't a racket for smashing for the third and looking for the ball to bounce out: the soft rubber and medium balance keep power in check, so you have to build the point rather than end it in one shot The sandy texture wears down with use on abrasive courts, and the spin you get early on smooths out over the weeks At 370g, the top end of the range, anyone after an ultra-light racket for defending long balls will feel it in the arm by the end of a third set The control-oriented profile rewards placement and point construction; if your game is about hitting hard from the back, the Set Okami will demand some patience

The Set Okami targets advanced players with consolidated technique who want more performance without yet moving to a pure competition racket. Its round shape concentrates the sweet spot in the center of the face, increasing tolerance and favouring control. The medium balance keeps a balanced behaviour between baseline shots and volleys. Its 355-370g weight range places it in the medium-weight group, the most common among amateur players.

Set Okami Review: The Round 38mm Padel Racket That Puts Control First Without Killing Your Power

The Japanese wolf behind the Set Okami name isn't just branding: the manufacturer links the animal to honesty, power and control, and the racket delivers in that exact reverse order. A 12K carbon face with a sandy finish, a soft Premium Eva Rubber core, a 38mm frame, round shape, medium balance and a weight range of 355 to 370 grams. This is an advanced-level padel racket built to put control first, without giving up firepower when the ball sits up.

Who Is the Set Okami Padel Racket Built For?

For advanced or competitive players who like to construct the point. The manufacturer positions the Set Okami as an advanced/pro-level racket aiming for balance, with control weighted ahead of raw power. On court that checks out: a very generous sweet spot, comfortable ball exit and a punch that's more respectful than devastating.

That doesn't make it an easy racket to pick up. The round shape forgives off-centre contact, but the weight can climb to 370 grams, and anyone without solid technique off the back wall will end up blocking balls instead of resolving them.

Set Okami Specs at a Glance

12K Carbon Over a Soft Core: Why This Pairing Actually Works

12K is a carbon weave with thicker fibres and a visible pattern. It gives the face structural stiffness without the harshness of tighter weaves, so contact feels firm rather than sharp.

Underneath, the soft Premium Eva Rubber does the opposite job: it absorbs, holds the ball for a few extra milliseconds, and sends it back with proper ball exit. That mix of a face with backbone sitting over a rubber that gives is what defines the feel of this racket in the Set lineup — a grabby, gripping sensation on contact rather than an instant bounce-back.

The 38mm frame rounds out the package. It's the maximum profile allowed, and on a round-shaped racket with a soft core, its job isn't to generate power on its own — it's to hold the structure steady so the face flexes evenly across the whole hitting surface.

The Sandy Finish: Real Spin, With a Shelf Life

The faces get a finish described as sandy and glossy, designed to help generate spin. On court that translates into something very specific: the ball sits on the surface a split second longer when you cut it.

Where it shows up:

1. **Cut bandeja** — the bite lets you open the face and send the ball deep to the back glass with less risk of it running long.
2. **Vibora** — you can close the angle with topspin without needing an extreme arm-speed swing.
3. **Defensive lob** — the grip helps you lift the ball with better depth control from a stretched position.
4. **Dropshot** — the texture holds the ball on the face for a beat, making it easier to cushion without it skidding off the frame.

The trade-off is an honest one: every sandy surface eventually polishes smooth. On abrasive sand-filled courts or with worn balls, that initial bite softens over months of play.

How the Set Okami Plays, Shot by Shot

At the net is where it shines brightest. The medium balance and round shape give you nimble handling in fast exchanges, and blocked volleys that catch the frame off-centre still come out clean, no twist, thanks to that oversized sweet spot.

On the smash, temper your expectations. This is a control racket with a soft core: the flat smash lands placed and deep, but it's not the weapon you reach for to end points on raw power alone. For the smash-for-the-third looking to send the ball out over the fence, you're supplying the energy.

On defence it really shines. That generous ball exit is exactly what you need coming off a deep back-wall retrieve: the racket sends the ball back down the court without you having to force the swing, saving your arm for the third set.

On everything else, the anti-vibration grip liner soaks up much of the sharp feedback from spin serves and adds real stability on contact.

Who Should Actually Buy the Set Okami

The Set Okami suits the backcourt player who builds from the back, moves well up to net, and wins points through placement rather than raw hitting. If your matches get decided in long bandeja exchanges while you hunt for the short ball, this racket has your back.

If your game is quick-arm and about closing the point on the first smash, this isn't the fit: it'll ask for two or three more shots than you're used to playing.

As a doubles pairing, it works well alongside a more aggressive partner running a power racket — you sustain the rally, they finish it.

Verdict

The Set Okami delivers exactly what it promises: reliable control with power kept on a leash, in a forgiving round 38mm shape that bails you out on off-centre hits. The 12K carbon over soft Premium Eva Rubber gives an unusually grippy feel, and the sandy finish adds a genuine spin boost while it lasts.

Its limits are clear too: it's not a racket for big hitters, that top-end 370g weight adds up over long matches, and the texture wears down over time. For an advanced player who values sweet spot and ball exit over raw power, the whole package holds together from top to bottom.